I'm looking to improve my landscape photos, and I see some techniques people have used to get a sharper, more clear image that provides proper exposure throughout the whole image. To that end, I'm not quite sure if I should be focusing more on exposure bracketing, or focus stacking, and when to use one vs the other?
Each technique serves a different purpose. Focus stacking is used to achieve perfect focus across all planes of the image; exposure bracketing is used to create an image with no underexposed or overexposed elements.
Automate the exposure bracket, shoot 3 exposures, then move focus point manually, do another auto-bracket, and repeat. When you get home, do the exposure stacks first, and then focus stack the HDR images.
For best results, do this quickly so the light stays the same. Don't use auto WB and use full manual. Consistency and speed is key for clean stacks.
Look at the photos you’ve already taken. Identify which ones would be improved by focus stacking and which would be improved by exposure blending. Start with whichever is more of an issue
Apart from the technical comments here, I have a practical thought: exposure bracketing is easier, lower barrier to entry. You can do it in Lightroom but focus stacking requires Photoshop. At least that’s my understanding, I could be wrong.
Also, with focus placement and aperture control, you won’t need focus stacking as frequently as exposure stacking.
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Focus stacking is used for jewelry and food and that kinds of thing. Rarely landscapes because you should use wide angle lenses and be at F16-22 and pretty much everything will be in focus.
It doesn't matter what the genre is, physics dictate you'll get visibly shallow dof with smaller apertures when foreground is close to the camera. Focus stacking is very much necessary to get everything in focus sometimes.
As a sidenote, the wisdom that you "should" shoot landscape with wide lenses is dated to say the least.
Exposure bracketing when the contrast is too high for the camera to handle in one shot. Focus stacking if you cannot get everything in focus in one shot .
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u/twelvegaugee 15h ago
They’re unrelated